ROSE PINK (GOL-GUN)
First Technique:
The first technique of making rose pink colour (gol-gun) is explained in four sources in more or less the same manner; mixing lac and saffron where more saffron is advised in the mixture. these sources are Resaleh-ye Joharrieh (15th century), Resāleh Dar Bayān-e Kāğaḏ Morakkab va Ḥall-e Alvān (15th century), Golzār-e Ṣafā and Ḵaṭ va Morakkab (16th century) . The first two sources have the following recipe:
رنگ گلگون - قدری رنگ لاک و زعفران با یکدیگر بیامیزد و کاغذ بدان رنگ کند، و اگر زعفران زیادت کند بهتر آید
For a rose-pink hue, blend a bit of lac dye with saffron and use the mixture to color the paper. A richer tone is achieved by adding more saffron.
In the third source Ali Seyrafi in Golzār-e Ṣafā (950 A.H./1543 A.D.), highlights that writing in gold looks elegant on rose pink paper (gol-gun) and advises the same technique mentioned above to mix lac and saffron to obtain gol-gun to dye paper with:
اي مه مهر چنين خط طلا هست بر كاغذ گلگون رعنا
خط برين گونه بدو مستحسن اين كند خط عذارت روشن
چون شود ميل ضمير تو فزون كه بود گونة كاغذ گلگون
اولاً رنگ هم از لاك بگير زعفران ريز درو از تدبير
زعفران بيشترك بهتر دان چون كني تجربه آميزش آن
پس بدان رنگ نما كاغذ رنگ كه بگفتم بتو اي با فرهنگ
Upon rose-pink paper, the script gracefully shines,
A fusion of elegance in every line.
Just as the paper is touched by this hue,
Saffron's added, a plan tried and true.
Experiment with care, as I've shared with you,
Oh cultured one, with knowledge so true.
In this golden script, on that radiant base,
The beauty emerges, a delightful embrace.
First, take lac dye, let its richness amass,
More saffron for depth, an artful contrast.
Dye the paper with care, as I suggest,
Let it unfold, in this hue be dressed.
Second Technique:
The second technique is mentioned in two sources in mid 16th century, Savād al-ḵaṭ and Ādāb al-Mašq both by Ṣolṭān Aḥmad Majnun Rafiqi Heravi, to obtain rose pink (gol-gun) from safflower. In these sources the technique is the same as mentioned for obtaining other shades of colour from safflower extract described earlier i.e., red (sorkh) and reddish yellow (āl):
In the first method the paper goes through three baths in three separately: dye, lemon juice and water.
In the second method the paper goes through one bath: mixture of dye and lemon juice.
Rafiqi Heravi has described the first method in Savād al-ḵaṭ and the second method he has described it in poetry form in Ādāb al-Mašq both in mid 16th century. The first technique in his first source is described as follows:
امٌا اگر خواهی که گلگون کنی، گلِ کاجیره را نرم بکوب و به موینه بیز و در ظرفی به آب خمیر کن و بر لته ای ریز، و آب بر او می زن تا زرد آبِ آن تمام بچکد. و آن وقتی معلوم گردد که زردی آن مایل به سفیدی گردد. و بعد از آن بیرون آور و به دست بیفشار چنان که در او آب هیچ نماند. بعد از آن یکمن و نیم گل را خوب پخته، بر او زن. و طریق او آن است که پاره پاره از او تنک سازی و آن قلیه را پاره پاره بر او می زنی. چنان که به همه جای او برسد، و بهم بر آر، چون تمام شود او را به کف دست بسیار بمال، تا وقتی که چون به انگشت بیفشاری، گل سفید نماند. بعد از آن باز بر لته ریز و آب بر او می زن و شاهاب می گیر تا مادام که در او رنگ نماند. بعد از آن سه من کِشْته را ده من آب ریخته بگذار تا لعاب خود را تمام باز دهد. آبها را در ظرفی کن و قدر دانگی در ظرفی دیگر، و او را همه وقت شیر گرم نگاه دار، و هر یک من شاهاب یک سیر آبِ کشته بریز، و کاغذ در رنگ نِه، و پیوسته او را می گردان تا وقتی که رنگ به دلخواه شود، بیرون آر، و به آبِ کِشْته بر آر و باز به آب صاف بر آر و بر رَجَه انداز. امٌا احتیاج است به چوب نهادن، و اگر چوب ننهند بر یکدیگر چسبد و دو رنگ شود
If you wish to achieve rose-pink dye (gol-gun), start by grinding safflower petals into a paste and sift it. Add water to make a paste, then place it in a cloth and sprinkle water on it until the yellow bile is completely removed, evident when yellow drops turn clear. Squeeze the paste to remove excess water. Prepare one and a half mann of safflower in the same manner and add alkaline ash until well mixed. Add the alkaline ash to the safflower in parts, ensuring a homogeneous mixture. Rub the mixture with your palms until the color changes and no white flower remains when squeezed. Place it in a cloth again, sprinkle water to extract safflower (šahāb) until clear. Add three mann of kešteh (sour dried fruits) in ten mann water until sour substance is extracted. Pour the safflower extract (šahāb) into one container and, for each mann of safflower extract (šahāb), pour one ser of kešteh juice into another container. Keep them lukewarm. Dip paper in the dye, shaking continuously until the desired color is achieved. Remove the dyed paper, dip it in the kešteh juice, and then in clear water. Hang the paper on a rope using wooden sticks to avoid sticking, preventing two different shades.
The second source Ādāb al-Mašq by Ṣolṭān Aḥmad Majnun Rafiqi Heravi (1523 A.D.) describe the second method as follows:
گر هست تو را هوای گلگون رنگین سخنی شنو ز مجنون
اوٌل گلِ پَلْم را بکوبی تا نرم شود ز عین خوبی
وانگاه ببَرَش از حریری وز آب زلال کن خمیری
بر پاره ای صافی نِه آن را گفتم به تو قصٌهٔ نهان را
وان را ز بلندیی در آویز بر وی ز پی هم آب می ریز
تا زردآبش تمام گردد وان آب سفید فام گردد
باید به کَفَش نکو بیفشرد وان نم ز درون او برون برد
بر یک مَنْ گل چهار مثقال اَشخارِ خمیده زن بهر حال
چون آن به تغار گشت منضم آنگاه به کفش بمال در هم
هر گه گل و گل بهم در آمیخت باید به همان صفت در آویخت
می ریز بر او زمانْ زمان آب می گیر شهاب صاف از آب
در یک من کِشْته کن سه من آب چندان که شود به رنگ جلاب
می گیر از آن لعاب دلخواه در یک من ریز آب آنگاه
کاغذ چه خطایٔی و چه شامی در وی فکن آن قدر که خواهی
کاغذ چه حریر نرم باشد وآن آب چه شیرْ گرم باشد
بر می گیرد از آن زمانش اینست طریقِ امتحانش
If in your heart, the desire for rose-pink blooms,
Listen to this tale, rich with colorful tunes.
First, pound the safflower of palam so fine,
Softening its essence with beauty divine.
Then, from its silkiness, gently extract,
With clear, flowing water, form a paste compact.
On a smooth surface, spread it with care,
Revealing a story, hidden and rare.
Suspend it on high, let the water descend,
Till the yellowish drops to clear ones transcend.
Squeeze it by hand, every drop retrieve,
Extract all the liquid, let nothing deceive.
For one mann of safflower, four mesqāl ash blend,
Hang it again, a consistent method to mend.
Pour water in stages, the first extract in sight,
A journey of colors, a magical flight.
Add one mann of kešteh, like a culinary spell,
To the dye, give a hue, like rose water's[1] sweet smell.
Take a portion desired, add a mann of clear water,
Dip khatāei or shāmi paper, watch color totter.
In the warm dye, the paper turns silk-soft,
A dance of hues, an experience aloft.
So, follow this tale, with a keen understanding,
Experience the magic, in each step commanding.
Third Technique:
The only source that has described the third technique to obtain rose pink (gol-gun) is Majmu’at al-sanaye (1005 A.H. /1596 A.D) advising to mix redwood (baqqam) with white ceruse:
رنگ گلگون قدری بقم را پاره پاره کرده در دیگی پاکیزه بجوشانند و سفیده قدری حل کنند با او بیامیزد و اک کاغذ را بآب شب یمانی بدارند و خشک کنند و مهره زنند
To obtain pink rose (gol-gun), crush some redwood (baqqam) and place it in a clean vessel to boil. Add a bit of white ceruse to it and mix well. Dye the paper, then apply an alum solution. Let it dry and proceed to burnish.
[1] Simi Neyšapuri, Resaleh-ye Joharrieh, 282
[2] Anonymous, Resāleh dar Bayān-e Kāḡaḏ Morakkab va Ḥall-e Alvān, 60
[3] Ali Seyrafi, Golzār-e Ṣafā, 247.
[4] Hossein Aqili Rostamdari, Ḵaṭṭ va Morakkab, 339.
[5] Ṣolṭān Aḥmad Majnun Rafiqi Heravi, Savād al-ḵaṭṭ, 195.
[6] Ṣolṭān Aḥmad Majnun Rafiqi Heravi, Ādāb al-Mašq, 217.
[7] jalāb (جلاب ) is another term for sharbat a kind of a traditional drink made of cooking mixture of rose water and honey or sugar which sometimes they add saffron to become like a syrup consistency
[8] Anonymous, Majmu’at al-sanaye’, L 58
Experiment:
Begin by taking 5g of safflower petals and grinding them thoroughly with a pestle and mortar or an electric blender. Transfer the ground petals to a muslin cloth, tightly closing it to form a sac. Wash the sac with cold water until all the yellow colorant is extracted. To verify, moisten a piece of white cloth with the dye releasing from the sac. If a yellow stain appears, continue washing; if it's red, the washing process is complete. Thoroughly squeeze the washed safflower in the sac. Next, transfer the safflower to a mortar and rub it with your fingers. Add 1–2g of alkaline ash to the mortar (the ratio of ground safflower to alkaline ash is approximately 5:1), grinding them together until the red colorant appears. Transfer the mixture back to the muslin sac and slowly pour warm water over the sac using a pipette until the safflower dye is extracted. Separate the first superior extract from the second and the last, resulting in three different shades.
Second Technique (1st Method): Pour the red safflower dye, lemon juice, and water into three separate vessels. Dip the paper first in the dye solution, then in 20 ml of lemon juice, and finally rinse it with water. Take it out and let it dry in the shade.
Second Technique (2nd Method): Pour lemon juice into safflower extract until the dye turns to a clear rose pink. Dip the paper and keep it for a few hours to get the desired color. Finally, take it out and let it dry in the shade.